PlessPix

The Kingborough Lions overcame Northern Rangers 2-0 to register consecutive victories for the first time in 2016. Goals from Danny Cowen and Chris Downes secured the three points which saw them jump above Launceston City and move up into fifth position on the table.

After a cagey opening fifteen minutes with no genuine chances Danny Cowen came close to opening the scoring when he flicked a Downes free kick onto the crossbar with a thumping header.

Set pieces with the big bodies of Cowen and Cartwright were looking the Lions best avenue to goal but led by Palacio at the back, Rangers did a good job holding them out throughout the first half.

At the other end, Harry Thannhauser, being played a striker had a couple of almost moments as he and Pat Lanau-Atkinson, who buzzed about dangerously all match combined, but they were struggling to forge clear cut chances.

The game appeared to be heading into the break at 0-0 before in the 42nd minute a long ball came over the top towards Gates who got there before the keeper Chugg and lobbed it over him. His effort was blocked by a Cross who had got back to cover but Chugg took out Gates with his follow through and gave away the penalty.

Cowen stepped up and dispatched it with authority to send the Lions into the sheds 1-0 ahead.

Damian Pearce came close to doubling the lead shortly after the restart when he hit a low drive from the edge of the box into the post, the late swing on the ball denying what would have been a lovely goal.

The Lions were firmly on top as the game wore on, despite the hard work of the Rangers players who were scrapping for every ball and defending well against the pressure that was starting to build up.

Shane Cartwright almost set up Downes for the second after he took off on a marauding run, beating three defenders before passing it back across the face of goal where nobody could connect with it.

There was no denying Chris Downes five minutes later however, a cross field pass finding him just inside the box on the left hand side. Showing the sublime technique that has seen him score plenty of eye catching goals in 2016, Downes curled the ball over Chugg and into the far right hand corner of the goal to make it 2-0.

Rangers pushed hard for a way back into the game in the final 20 minutes as Thannhauser and Lanau-Atkinson both came close but they couldn’t find a way through a very well organized Lions defence that denied them time and space all game.

It would end 2-0, probably a fair reflection on a game that the Lions were the better side in, though a game that saw few clear cut chances and both sides defences controlling for the most part.